Kayhan Irani is an interdisciplinary artist and cultural worker whose practice bridges storytelling, theater, and education for liberation. An Emmy Award-winning writer and 2016 White House Champion of Change, she specializes in creating participatory art experiences that foster community healing and transformation. 

Through her work as a Theater of the Oppressed practitioner and trainer, Irani has developed innovative approaches to civic engagement and community development, working with organizations ranging from the grassroots to international institutions. Her creative portfolio includes the acclaimed one-woman show "We've Come Undone," which toured internationally, and her latest work, "There is a Portal," explores themes of migration, fracture, and belonging through an immersive digital storytelling experience. 

As a consultant and educator, she has designed and implemented programs for NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, National Parks Service, and BBC World Service Trust, among others. Irani's influence extends beyond performance through her published works, including co-editing the volume Telling Stories to Change the World (Routledge) and pieces in publications such as The Massachusetts Review and The World Policy Journal, as well as edited volumes such as Culturally Relevant Arts Education for Social Justice (Routledge) and A Grassroots Leadership & Arts for Social Change Primer (ILA).

She was a 2012 Fulbright-Nehru Senior Researcher studying Parsi embroidery for her play Tree of Seeds.

Her approach combines rigorous artistic practice with a deep commitment to community-centered storytelling and social transformation.